Is HD the go

[tex]

I am about to buy a 86cm widescreen crt tv and I am wondering if it is worth spending the extra money for a HD set when it seems that what is broadcast is mainly SD. Then to top it off today while in several shops looking at TVs to buy, I noticed the Olympics was only being shown in 4:3 format. why would this be?

[Neale]

"tex" <tex.1b2x8c@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in message
news:tex.1b2x8c@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
>
> I am about to buy a 86cm widescreen crt tv and I am wondering if it is
> worth spending the extra money for a HD set when it seems that what is
> broadcast is mainly SD. Then to top it off today while in several shops
> looking at TVs to buy, I noticed the Olympics was only being shown in
> 4:3 format. why would this be?

I'm pretty sure the Olympics are broadcast in 4:3 because that's what most
of Europe wanted it to be. Those crazy Greeks didn't want to send out two
streams, so I think only the opening and closing ceremonies are 16:9.

[BenOne©]

tex wrote:

> I am about to buy a 86cm widescreen crt tv and I am wondering if it is
> worth spending the extra money for a HD set when it seems that what is
> broadcast is mainly SD. Then to top it off today while in several shops
> looking at TVs to buy, I noticed the Olympics was only being shown in
> 4:3 format. why would this be?
>
>

Stick with SD if you are getting a CRT. Only bother with HD if you are getting a
plasma because SD plasmas are lower res than SD CRTs, so you need an HD plasma
to see the full res of a DVD, but that's not the case with an SD CRT.

--
Ben Thomas
Opinions, conclusions, and other information in this message that do not
relate to the official business of my firm shall be understood as neither
given nor endorsed by it.

[davidred]

I am about to buy a 86cm widescreen crt tv and I am wondering if it is worth spending the extra money for a HD set when it seems that what is broadcast is mainly SD. Then to top it off today while in several shops looking at TVs to buy, I noticed the Olympics was only being shown in 4:3 format. why would this be?

I bought a 76cm widescreen CRT TV (Sony KVHR32) and there is quite a noticeable difference between SD and HD transmissions *when* it's being broadcast.

I'd recommend getting the HD set top box just so you don't buy an SD now and then purchase an HD box in 6 or 12 months time. A

lso, you didn't mention what type of TV you are purchasing. If it can't handle HD inputs then my above recommendation is null and void since you would never see the benefits of a HD broadcast with an SD TV :).

[tex]

I bought a 76cm widescreen CRT TV (Sony KVHR32) and there is quite a noticeable difference between SD and HD transmissions *when* it's being broadcast.

I'd recommend getting the HD set top box just so you don't buy an SD now and then purchase an HD box in 6 or 12 months time. A

lso, you didn't mention what type of TV you are purchasing. If it can't handle HD inputs then my above recommendation is null and void since you would never see the benefits of a HD broadcast with an SD TV :).

I am tossing up between the Philips 36PW9527 ahnd the Panasonic 86 200a. I have seen postings recomending to have a look at the 86cm Toshiba also which I will do before making a descision. Not sure if the Philips is HD.

[Jim]

davidred wrote:
> tex Wrote:
>
>>I am about to buy a 86cm widescreen crt tv and I am wondering if it is
>>worth spending the extra money for a HD set when it seems that what is
>>broadcast is mainly SD. Then to top it off today while in several shops
>>looking at TVs to buy, I noticed the Olympics was only being shown in
>>4:3 format. why would this be?
>
>
> I bought a 76cm widescreen CRT TV (Sony KVHR32) and there is quite a
> noticeable difference between SD and HD transmissions *when* it's being
> broadcast.
>
> I'd recommend getting the HD set top box just so you don't buy an SD
> now and then purchase an HD box in 6 or 12 months time. A
>
> lso, you didn't mention what type of TV you are purchasing. If it
> can't handle HD inputs then my above recommendation is null and void
> since you would never see the benefits of a HD broadcast with an SD TV
> :).
>
>

I'd say hold off on HD. A top quality SD transmission is very good and
most stations are not pushing the SD envelope as yet. Keep in mind -
it's only television.

Jim

[Mike]

tex wrote:
> I am about to buy a 86cm widescreen crt tv and I am wondering if it is
> worth spending the extra money for a HD set when it seems that what is

Current (lack of) HD broadcast in Aus is a big dissapointment. And the
STBs still are expensive. No HD-DVDs likely for a while yet either.
So I'd say hold off. The HD CRTs might show a bit better than SD,
but it will be a long way from full 1080 line.

Do the standard SD STBs show 7 and SBS 576p ?

[bosustow]

HD broadcasting is about 20 hours per week per channel, so you get
reasonably coverage, sports are not HD


"tex" <tex.1b2x8c@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in message
news:tex.1b2x8c@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
>
> I am about to buy a 86cm widescreen crt tv and I am wondering if it is
> worth spending the extra money for a HD set when it seems that what is
> broadcast is mainly SD. Then to top it off today while in several shops
> looking at TVs to buy, I noticed the Olympics was only being shown in
> 4:3 format. why would this be?
>
>
> --
> tex
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> tex's Profile: http://forums.eyo.com.au/member.php?userid=6958
> View this thread: http://forums.eyo.com.au/showthread.php?t=58984
>

[Mark]

bosustow wrote:
> HD broadcasting is about 20 hours per week per channel, so you get
> reasonably coverage, sports are not HD

Either this guy hasn't actually got a HD setup, or he owns an electronics
retail store, or ...?

HD is a complete waste of money at the moment and for quite
some foreseeable future in this country. Get yourself a cheap SD
setup and you will be far better off.

[freckles]

The opening ceremony was shown in widescreen on HD only.

"tex" <tex.1b2x8c@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in message
news:tex.1b2x8c@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
>
> I am about to buy a 86cm widescreen crt tv and I am wondering if it is
> worth spending the extra money for a HD set when it seems that what is
> broadcast is mainly SD. Then to top it off today while in several shops
> looking at TVs to buy, I noticed the Olympics was only being shown in
> 4:3 format. why would this be?
>
>
> --
> tex
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> tex's Profile: http://forums.eyo.com.au/member.php?userid=6958
> View this thread: http://forums.eyo.com.au/showthread.php?t=58984
>

[Mark]

freckles wrote:
> The opening ceremony was shown in widescreen on HD only.

To clarify, it was shown in widescreen HD only live
at 4.30am. Channel 7 have shown all replays since
in 4x3 SD. Further, it was shown in Channel 7's deficient
form of "HD" (576p instead of 9, 10, and ABC's 1080i)
which actually gives a worse picture than SD for most
(all?) people. In short, Channel 7 don't provide HD and don't
have an ounce of commitment towards digital TV in Australia.

[OzDuDe]

Mike wrote:


> Do the standard SD STBs show 7 and SBS 576p ?

Some do (sort of) and I believe some don't.

My Thomson and Strong both show 7 ED and SBS ED (576p) as a series of
stuttering still frames.

Oz

[DAVO]

"freckles" <xxx@xxx.com> wrote in message
news:F_fUc.195$R7.34@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> The opening ceremony was shown in widescreen on HD only.
>
> "tex" <tex.1b2x8c@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in message
> news:tex.1b2x8c@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
> >
> > I am about to buy a 86cm widescreen crt tv and I am wondering if it is
> > worth spending the extra money for a HD set when it seems that what is
> > broadcast is mainly SD. Then to top it off today while in several shops
> > looking at TVs to buy, I noticed the Olympics was only being shown in
> > 4:3 format. why would this be?


Clearly that's not good enough considering all the hype leading up to the
games as it was widely advertised to watch the Olympics on 7 in Digital W/S.

DAVO

[tex]

> >
> > I am about to buy a 86cm widescreen crt tv and I am wondering if it is
> > worth spending the extra money for a HD set when it seems that what is
> > broadcast is mainly SD. Then to top it off today while in several shops
> > looking at TVs to buy, I noticed the Olympics was only being shown in
> > 4:3 format. why would this be?[/color][/color]


Clearly that's not good enough considering all the hype leading up to the
games as it was widely advertised to watch the Olympics on 7 in Digital W/S.

DAVO[/QUOTE]
I had a look at the channel 7 broadcast yesterday at 4 different stores (2 of which were specialty tv/hi fi shops) and quite frankly it convinced me not to buy a plasma or LCD. The quality of picture was rubbish compared to my 68cm NEC crt recieving analog signal (on pioneer and hitachi and nec and samsung and lg,)

[OzDuDe]

Marli wrote:
> Thats what I found. A lot of the HD is just re-encoded SD. From what I have
> seen I wouldnt bother...
>
>
> "Mark" <mark@noaddress.nospam> wrote in message
> news:41219296$1@duster.adelaide.on.net...
>
>>freckles wrote:
>>
>>>The opening ceremony was shown in widescreen on HD only.
>>
>>To clarify, it was shown in widescreen HD only live
>>at 4.30am. Channel 7 have shown all replays since
>>in 4x3 SD. Further, it was shown in Channel 7's deficient
>>form of "HD" (576p instead of 9, 10, and ABC's 1080i)
>>which actually gives a worse picture than SD for most
>>(all?) people. In short, Channel 7 don't provide HD and don't
>>have an ounce of commitment towards digital TV in Australia.


As far as I know Channel TEN in Sydney is the only one with a dedicated
HD suite where (predominantly) movies are encoded as 1080i/50, either
from 1080i/60 masters from the ATSC system, or 35mm direct to 1080/50.

As evidenced by the HD transmissions I've seen from Nine (Kerry
Anne/Burkes Backyard/other videoed trashTV) and Video from TEN (Rove
Live/The Panel etc) it's nothing more than upscaled SD video camera junk
(576i -> 1080i).

No-one as far as I am aware actually transmits HD video from their HD
Sony(1440 lines)/Panasonic Handycams used in the field, except the Nine
HD demo channel.

It's a sad situation IMO where 7 passes ED off for HD and gets away with
it (I can't recall seeing 576p listed as an HD format on dvb.org's
format specifications) and upconverted SD video passes for HD
transmission. Sure it's 1080 lines, but that's about all.

Me thinks, Alston stuffed more up with the conservative, impulse driven
legislation than is apparent at first viewing, and it hardly enthuses us
consumers to outlay for HD STB's and displays when all one has to do is
watch a really decent SD transmission (such as the ABC).

Hopefully one day sense will overtake commercial greed and maneuvering.

Oz

[OzDuDe]

DAVO wrote:

> Clearly that's not good enough considering all the hype leading up to the
> games as it was widely advertised to watch the Olympics on 7 in Digital W/S.


Anyone noticed that $even (CH4+3, CH16-9) are now advertising CH71 as
some amazing real time fact giving digital enhancement?

Why do I sense a ground swell panic coming from $even? ;)

Oz

[bassett]

Check out the following site for continual up-dates on terrestrial Digital
information http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php



"DAVO" <davideo@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ipuUc.1138$R7.848@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>
> "freckles" <xxx@xxx.com> wrote in message
> news:F_fUc.195$R7.34@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> > The opening ceremony was shown in widescreen on HD only.
> >
> > "tex" <tex.1b2x8c@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in message
> > news:tex.1b2x8c@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
> > >
> > > I am about to buy a 86cm widescreen crt tv and I am wondering if it is
> > > worth spending the extra money for a HD set when it seems that what is
> > > broadcast is mainly SD. Then to top it off today while in several
shops
> > > looking at TVs to buy, I noticed the Olympics was only being shown in
> > > 4:3 format. why would this be?
>
>
> Clearly that's not good enough considering all the hype leading up to the
> games as it was widely advertised to watch the Olympics on 7 in Digital
W/S.
>
> DAVO
>
>

[Michael Garibaldi]

OzDuDe wrote:
> As far as I know Channel TEN in Sydney is the only one with a dedicated
> HD suite where (predominantly) movies are encoded as 1080i/50, either
> from 1080i/60 masters from the ATSC system, or 35mm direct to 1080/50.
>
> As evidenced by the HD transmissions I've seen from Nine (Kerry
> Anne/Burkes Backyard/other videoed trashTV) and Video from TEN (Rove
> Live/The Panel etc) it's nothing more than upscaled SD video camera junk
> (576i -> 1080i).
Ummm.. I hate to tell you but Kerry Ann IS 1080i, so is anything that
origniates from TCN studio 2! ie Funniest Home Vids, Sunday etc.. If it
looks bad to you, then I suggest a new HD display is called for.
Rove is SD upconverted.
>
> No-one as far as I am aware actually transmits HD video from their HD
> Sony(1440 lines)/Panasonic Handycams used in the field, except the Nine
> HD demo channel.
>
> It's a sad situation IMO where 7 passes ED off for HD and gets away with
> it (I can't recall seeing 576p listed as an HD format on dvb.org's
> format specifications) and upconverted SD video passes for HD
> transmission. Sure it's 1080 lines, but that's about all.
>
> Me thinks, Alston stuffed more up with the conservative, impulse driven
> legislation than is apparent at first viewing, and it hardly enthuses us
> consumers to outlay for HD STB's and displays when all one has to do is
> watch a really decent SD transmission (such as the ABC).
>
> Hopefully one day sense will overtake commercial greed and maneuvering.
>
> Oz

[BenOne©]

tex wrote:


> Clearly that's not good enough considering all the hype leading up to
> the
> games as it was widely advertised to watch the Olympics on 7 in Digital
> W/S.
>
> DAVO
> I had a look at the channel 7 broadcast yesterday at 4 different stores
> (2 of which were specialty tv/hi fi shops) and quite frankly it convinced
> me not to buy a plasma or LCD. The quality of picture was rubbish
> compared to my 68cm NEC crt recieving analog signal (on pioneer and
> hitachi and nec and samsung and lg,)
>
>

I don't know why you would use channel 4+3 to demo TV sets, unless you were only
thinking of upgrading because your favourite shows are on 7.

Analog FTA looks crap on my "HD" plasma compared to analog FTA on my bottom
of-the-range 51cm Hitachi CRT.

SD on the plasma looks stunning by comparison (to both) though.

--
Ben Thomas
Opinions, conclusions, and other information in this message that do not
relate to the official business of my firm shall be understood as neither
given nor endorsed by it.

[Mike]

Michael Garibaldi wrote:

>> As far as I know Channel TEN in Sydney is the only one with a
>> dedicated HD suite where (predominantly) movies are encoded as
>> 1080i/50, either from 1080i/60 masters from the ATSC system, or 35mm
>> direct to 1080/50.

So most 10 movies are HD?

I grabbed a sample of 'Payback' recently, which was supposed to be HD,
according to www.widescreentv.info . But it looked up-converted( or
maybe it was just grainy scenes?)

But Drew Carey, now on 3pm daily, really does look better on HD.
I've only a 1280x720 display, but the difference is clear.
If Drew Carey is the highlight, I won't be getting a 1080i display any
time soon :-)

> Ummm.. I hate to tell you but Kerry Ann IS 1080i, so is anything that
> origniates from TCN studio 2! ie Funniest Home Vids, Sunday etc.. If it

"Funniest Home videos" in HD? All that NTSC home-footage in glorious HD eh?
And I like The Panel, but who cares if its SD, HD, or even B&W for
that matter??